Lubricator pump



LUBRICATOR PUMP Filed Oct. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR THEIR A ORNEYJ Aug. 30, 1932. 5, CLAPP ET AL 1,874,026

LUBRICATOR PUMP Filed Oct. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3/ 42 Jwwmtoo r dbtomwq s Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES KENNETH S. OLAIBAND THEODORE H. EICKHQFF, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO I LUBRICATOR PUMP Application filed October 26, 1929. Serial No. 402,674.

This invention in its broader aspects, relates to apparatus and a method for moving fluent materials in situations where the final delivery mustbe under considerable pressure.

5 In certain embodiments it is of part cular value in the handling of plastic compositions, although not inapplicable to liqu1.ds, and has among its objects the provision of apparatus of this nature which will be slmple in construction, durable and dependable in service,

capable of being economically built and operated, and a substantial advance in the art.

Specifically, the invention as hereinafter described contemplates two interdependent 1:; stages for moving lubricant material, the first or primary pressure stage of such means including a pair of conveyin screws rotatable in a housing at the bottom a reservolr, these screws being associated with the apparatus of m the second pressure stage, which takes the lubricant from the conveyors and drives it to its destination. For convenience the apparatus for accomplishing the first stage is termed feeding means, and that for the second stage is called pressure means, although some latitude is necessary in the interpretation of these terms, for the reason that certa-in of the elenents of our invention may be common to both stages.

When used as a lubricatorour invention may be conveniently constructed in the form of a lubricant reservoir the bottom of which constitutes ahousing for the feeding and pressure means. This reservoir bottom and a driving element which may conveniently be an electric motor, are preferably mounted on a single bed plate, and this in turn may be supported upon a wheeled frame if the apparatus is to be made portable.

A preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus in a portable form;

Fig. 2 is a plan section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the booster mechanism r Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitu 60 dinal section showing part of the reservoir,

screw casing and pressure chamber, and a fragment of the screw conveyor together with the pressure apparatus.

Referring now to the figures of the drawmgs throughout which like parts are designated by like reference characters, the present embodiment of our invention includes a bed plate 10, suitably mounted on wheels 11,

a lubricant reservoir 12 and motor 13 being secured to the bed plate. The reservoir 12 is 0 herein shown as a rectangular tank having a base 14; in the form of a casting supported by legs 15. A flexible'conduit 16 conveys lubricant to the point of application, and a flexible cable 17 connects the motor to a suitable as source of current.

The reservoir may conveniently comprise sheet metal sides held down to the base 14 by hooked tie rods 19, the bottoms of the sides surrounding an interior base flange and being clamped thereto by straps 21. In the form shown, tool boxes 22 are "fastened to each side of the reservpir to provide convenient holding places for Wrenches, spare fittings and similar articles.

cover 23 as shown is centrally a-pertured for the passage of a gauge rod 24, the top of which is finished with a handle 25 so that the cover and a follower plate 26 indicated by dotted lines are always removed together. This plate 26 is a heavy piece of metal, with the gauge rod 24 secured to its center. The gauge rod may conveniently be graduated in pounds or otherwise, as most desirable.

The bottom 30 of the base 14, may slope down to a median line below which, a lengthwise lubricant channel in the nature of a housing 31 open along most of its upper side, crosses the bottom. Thus the lubricant may fiow'by its own weight and that of the suction equaling plate 26 into the channel 31, in which it is kneaded and stirred and through which it is carried by the screw conveyors 32 and 33 into the chamber 34.

The action of the suction equalizing or follower plate 26 is such as to prevent air pockets fromforming in the plastic lubricant, thus causing the lubricant to flow downward evenly in the reservoir keeping the conveyor covered until the lubricantis entirely dispersed.

Asbest illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive the screw channel 31 is substantially closed on all but the upper part of its circumference. A partition is provided at the forward end of the channel and has a pair of apertures therethrough, through which the shafts 36 and 36' of the screws 32 and 33 may project. The feed screws each comprise a coarse pitchedthread 37, having a sufficient edge to provide a bearing surface, around a. central shaft such as 36. They are both adapted to be placed on a horizontal plane and the shaft of the conveyor 32 projects through a bearing 38 and packing gland 39, supported by the end cover plates 42, and is secured to the motor shaft 39 by a coupling 40. The rear end of the shaft of the screw conveyor 32- is journaled in a hearing 41 supported by the cover late 42. As previously stated the shafts 0 both screws project through apertures in the housing wall or portion 35 and a pair of gears 43 are secured to the shafts spaced from their ends.

The extremities of the shafts 36 and 36' are rotatably supported in bearings 41 in the front end cover plate 44. The screw con-- veyors may also set in close proximity to each other so that the threads are in inter locking relation, which prevents the rotation of the lubricant withthe screws and also assists in keeping the lubricant or material being dispensed in a thoroughly mixed state.

The space forward of the partition 35 may be considered as a secondary pressure chamber. As better illustrated in Fi 4, the channel 31 is covered at its for'war upper portion by an overhanging wall 40 formed integral with the base 14, to provide a primary pressure chamber 41 in which the ends of the screw conveyors may rotate.

An inlet 42 is provided in the lowermost portion of the secondary pressure chamber 5 which communicates with the primar pressure chamber. An outlet 43 is provided in the upper portion of the secondary chamber into which is screw-threaded a flanged coupling 44 which has a ball check valve 45 adapted to seat against the entrance to the duct 46. A nipple 47 is screwed intothe end of the coupling and provides a means of attaching the flexible hose 16, which is secured on the nipple by a clamp 48.

We find that a device constructed as described is particularly efiicient in dispensing extremely viscous and plastic lubricants which are ordinarily unmanageable when used in the type of grease dispensing devices commonly in use.

In operation the lubricant is placed in the reservoir 12 and the cover replaced in such a manner that the plate 26 rides on top of the lubricant. The lubricant will descend 5 into the channel 31 where it is mixed and conveyed by the screws 32, and 33 which are rotated by the motor 13, into the chamber 41 at the end of the channel 31. The lubricant is partially sucked and partially forced through the inlet 42 in the partition 35 into the secondary pressure chamber. Continued operation causes the lubricant to flow throu h the wall into the secondary chamber w ere it is expelled by the gear ump through the coupling44 and nipple 4 into the dispensing hose 16. The lubricant is prevented from returning to the secondary chamber by the ball valve 45 which acts as a check valve to close the duct 46.

The pumping operation 'is controlled by the switch 80 which is disposed on the end of the dispensing nozzle'81 in such a manner that when the coupling is connected to couplings upon the part to be lubricated, a single pressure on the end of the nozzle makes fluid contact with the receiving coupling and operates the switch to start the motor through the completion of the electrical circuit through the cable 82.

It will be understood that other fittings might be substituted for the nozzle 81, according to the nature of the material to be handled. For example, it is within the purview of this invention to use our apparatus for spraying paint, whitewash, insecticides, and the li e, inasmuch as the conveyor, either with or without an enclosure along its entire length, keeps the material uniformly mixed. For such use a suitable spray nozzle would of course be provided.

Although a certain amount of pressure is built up in the primary pressure chamber by thescrew conveyor, it may be readily seen that such a pressure is limited, but is sufiicient to 'feed' the same into the chamber where it is picked up by the secondary pressure means, sometimes called a booster and delivered under extremely high pressure, depending upon the amount of restriction encountered by the lubricant flow. The pressure may vary as before stated depending upon any restriction encountered between a few pounds and several thousand. A suitable safety relief valve may be provided in the endof the pressure chamber to eliminate the hazards of explosion. It may be readily seen, that in a device of the class described, that each element is dependent upon the other for the efficient operation. The conveyor screw supplying the lubricant to a chamber where it is picked up and fed forward under pressure.

Having thus described our invention, We are aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom but with out departing from the spirit thereof.

We'claim:

1. In a dispensing device, a reservoir, a dispensing means in communication with the bottom of the reservoir including a pair of screw'conveyors and a booster, said booster comprising a gear pump, one of the gears of said pump driven by one of the conveyors and the other gear of said pump driven by said first gear and driving the other conveyor.

2. In a power driven lubricator comprising a reservoir and a pressure chamber ad]acent thereto and conveyor means for conveying lubricant from said reservoir to said ressure chamber, said conveyor means including a pair of rotatable conveyor shafts, means for applying ressure to said lubricant, said means consisting of a gear pump,

' one gear of said pump secured to and rotated with the forward extension of said conveyor shaft, a gear chamber in which said gear rotates, another gear in said gear chamber meshing with said driven gear to drive the other conveyor shaft, an inlet port in said chamber in communication with the conveyor for supplying lubricant to said gears and an outlet port from said gear chamber. v

3. In a dispensing device comprising a reservoir and a pressure chamber adjacent thereto conveyor means for conveying material from the lower portion of said reservoir to said pressure chamber, said conveyor means including a pair of interlocking oppositely rotatable conveyor shafts having screws of constant pitch thread, means for applying pressure to said material consisting of a gear pump, the gears of said pump secured to and rotating with forward extensions of said conveyor screw shafts, a gear chamber in which said gears rotate, one gear adapted to be driven by one conveyor shaft and meshing with the other gear to drive the other conveyor shaft an inlet port in said chamber connecting with said conveyor and supplying material to said gears, and an outlet port from said gear chamber, and a dispensing tube in communication with said outlet.

4. In a dispensing device comprising a reservoir and a pressure chamber adjacent thereto conveyor means for conveying material from the lower portion of said reservoir to said pressure chamber, said conveyor means including a pair of interlocking oppositely rotatable conveyor shafts having screws of constant pitch thread, means for applying pressure to said material consisting of a gear pump, the gears of said pump secured to and rotating with forward extensions of said conveyor screw shafts, a gear chamber in which said gears rotate, one gear adapted to be driven by one conveyor shaft and meshing with the other gear to drive the other conveyor shaft in the opposite direction an inlet port in said chamber connecting with said conveyor and supplying material to said gears, and an outlet port from said gear chamber, and a dispensing tube in communication with said outlet.

thereto conveyor means for conveying ma-' terial from the lower portion of said reservoir to said pressure chamber, said conveyor means including a pair of interlocking oppositely rotatable conveyor shafts having screws of constant pitch thread, means for applying pressure to said material consistlng of a gear pump, the gears of said pump secured to and rotating with forward extensions of said conveyor screw shafts, a gear chamber in which said gears rotate, one gear adapted to be driven by one conveyor shaft and meshing with the other gear to drive the other conveyor shaft in the opposite direction an inlet port in the bottom of said chamber connecting said conveyor and supplying material to said gears, and an outlet port from the upper part of said gear chamber, and a dispensing tube in communication with said outlet.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures this 16th day of October, 1929.

KENNETH S. CLAPP.

THEODORE H. EIGKHOFF. 

